On Apr. 7, Tesla held a party to mark the opening of its new gigafactory in Austin, Texas.
Tesla's new factory will produce the Mode Y SUV. In 2023, the Texas gigafactory will finally begin producing the electric Cybertruck, which has been delayed since 2019.
Tesla Opened Gigafactory in Austin, Texas
The Texas factory is the company's fourth assembly plant. The announcement came after Tesla opened its plant near Berlin, Germany, according to The Verge.
The new factory will help the automaker increase its production to try and meet the expectation of increased sales that come with being the most valuable automaker in the world.
In 2020, Tesla chose Austin, Texas, over Tulsa, Oklahoma, for its second factory in the United States after a heated battle between states to win its business.
The automaker added it would move its headquarters to Austin, Texas, after clashing with California officials.
The event's name held during the opening of the Austin factory, "Cyber Rodeo," had spurred rumors that there could be an update about the Tesla electric Cybertruck.
Tesla said that the Cybertruck would cost around $39,900 and be produced in 2021. The triple motor all-wheel-drive version of the vehicle costs around $69,000.
However, Tesla removed the electric vehicle's pricing, trims, and specifications from its website in 2021, and the company's CEO, Elon Musk, said that they would not deliver the Cybertruck in 2022.
A new version of the Cybertruck appeared on stage during Musk's speech at the opening of the Texas factory. Side mirrors and more headlights had been added, but the door handles were removed.
Musk said that handles are not needed as the vehicle will be able to tell if the owner is there, and it will just open on its own.
Musk also said that there would be a dedicated Tesla robotaxi in the future that would be futuristic, but he did not reveal additional details.
But with little new product news to announce, and previously announced vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck, Semi, and Roadster already facing long delays, the Tesla CEO focused on the company's need for the factory itself.
Musk said on stage while wearing a black cowboy hat and sunglasses that they need a place where they can be really big, and there is "no place like Texas."
Musk also stated that they would set targets for the company, which no other automaker had ever achieved before. However, he did not know specify what they were, according to Reuters.
Tesla Texas Factory is the Biggest One Yet
Tesla said that the Austin factory could hold as many as 15,000 people. One local school district had let the students out early due to the anticipated traffic.
The event started with a drone light show, including representations of Tesla vehicles.
Tesla fans had described the road-tripping to the event from places as far away as Rhode Island and California. According to CNN, some Tesla fans made a 30-hour trip to Austin to attend the event.
Aside from going around the world to open Tesla gigafactories, Musk was also announced as the latest Twitter shareholder.
Related Article: Tesla Giga Berlin to Take a Year to Reach Volume Production, Elon Musk Reveals New Paint Colors
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Sophie Webster
